13 Mar Beneficiaries urged not to pay fees to bogus consultants to access NLB grants

PRESS STATEMENT

12 February 2015

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The National Lotteries Board (NLB) would like to warn NGOs and other organisations that benefit from the National Lottery grant system to be cautious when dealing with individuals or entities masquerading as “consultants” who can help secure funds from the NLB, says Charlotte Mampane, the Chief Executive of the NLB.

Mampane says the process of applying and receiving funds from the NLB does not require the help of third parties. “Application of funds from the NLB is a direct and straightforward process.

“The NLB also regularly sends out its own officials to communities across the country to conduct workshops with the sole purpose of helping organisations understand the application process and minimum requirements that should be met for each application,” says Mampane. “Our officials do not solicit funds from beneficiaries for conducting workshops.”

“Consultants” masquerading as employees or officials of the NLB are fraudsters and their overtures should not be entertained under any circumstance, says Mampane. These “consultants” are stealing scarce resources that are desperately needed for social development projects.

Mampane says corruption is one of the greatest obstacles to economic development and disproportionately affects underprivileged communities.

“Widespread corruption and wasteful expenditure diverts funds intended for economic and social development to the detriment of the poor and vulnerable members of our society.”

The NLB is making this call for vigilance by NGOs because NGOs are most susceptible to falling prey to corrupt and morally objectionable activities, concludes Mampane.

ENDS